Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Animal Shelter Needs Assessment - September 2014

The purpose of this Needs Assessment Study (Study) is for Shelter Planners of America (SPA) to provide information to the City of Rolla, MO (Rolla) that will guide them in regard to their future facilities needs.

The Study was authorized by John Butz, City Administrator, on April 23, 2014 in accordance SPA proposal dated March 25, 2014.

Information in this Study was developed from information provided by Rolla and observed during our on-site visit on May 28 and 29, 2014. The Study provides an evaluation of the existing facility, looks at people and animal levels, provides a proposed Building Space Program, provides site considerations, recommends features, discusses staffing, operating cost, estimated construction cost and operational matters.

It should be understood this Study is the first step in planning a new shelter. The second step will be to develop the Conceptual Site Plan and Building Floor Plan based on the approved Building Program contained in this Study. The third and final step will be development of the working drawings and specifications for constructing your project. There is a strong feeling among the general public and people who support humanely run shelters that new animal shelters need to be designed to address irresponsible animal ownership problems and irresponsible pet breeding. It is felt these problems should be countered with remedial programs of spay and neuter requirements, pet owner and public education, developing progressive ordinances and well promoted adoption programs. This approach is preferable to simply allowing the destruction of animals as a response to the problem of pet over population and irresponsible pet owners.